Two longstanding supporters of Bloodstock South Africa, V Orford and Wicklow Stud, will each be bringing two quality yearlings to the upcoming National Yearling Sale.

V Orford’s Dr Neil and Lyth Orford have been breeding horses at Bosworth Stud just outside Klerksdorp since they got married in 1968 and have produced close to 20 Group 1 winners a including Durban July winner, Heavy Metal, in 2013/14.

A son of Silvano, Heavy Metal was named Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse in 2013 following a season which saw him victorious not only in the G1 Vodacom Durban July but also in the G1 President’s Champions Challenge.

Now retired, Heavy Metal earned more than R3.799 million in prize money.

Bosworth Stud will also forever be remembered as home to the wonderful sire Hobnob, whose progeny included a plethora of Derby and Oaks winners as well as such high-class performers as Smart Money, Eaton Lad, Cholula, and Honey Chunk.

This year, V Orford will be bringing two yearlings by underrated Jet Master horse Skitt Skizzle to the National Sale. 

Chalcos (Lot 120) is a full-brother to Listed Secretariat Stakes winner Cordillera, while Coppola (Lot 167) is a colt out of a twice winning half-sister to speedy stakes winner Atlantic Inn.

These two lots can be viewed in Block A at the TBA complex in Germiston.

Rennie Price’s Wicklow Stud is another long standing and loyal supporter of the National Yearling Sale.

Based close to the famed Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape, Wicklow Stud has long been part of the fabric of South African breeding.

It has been run by Rennie for many years, with Rennie having worked in partnership with his father Norman for years before the latter’s death in 2015.

Among the notable thoroughbreds bred by Wicklow are talented G2 Al Rashidiya winner Forries Waltz (a winner of five of just seven starts) and Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap winner Native Tongue. The latter, a son of Master Of My Fate and the Silvano mare Nature Girl, has earned more than R400 000 to date.

Other smart performers to have emerged from Wicklow’s paddocks include Baby Shooz, T’Challa, and the classy Be Mine Tonight.

The East Cape farm will be offering two well bred yearlings at the 2022 National Yearling Sale- well performed War Front horse Fire Away is responsible for a half-brother (Lot 63) to the very smart performer Baby Shooz, while Japanese champion Danon Platina is the sire of a colt (Lot 171) whose stakes placed dam closely related to exported champion Kings Gambit.

Wicklow Stud’s two colts can be found in Block A at the TBA complex in Germiston.